A/N: I've been so heads down writing, trying to stay ahead of the chapters I've already posted, I finally noticed I've let my manners slip and slip badly. I'z bad girl. *blushes badly* Thank you, thank you and thank you for all of your reviews, favorites, followings et al!
Chapter 13
Dave won the coin flip that Reid did and he and Matt deferred so Dave could be the last shooter, behind Morgan. Emily lined up the cue ball and broke.
She drained a stripe on the break and went on to drop two more before finally missing. Matt moved around the table, finally finding a shoot. He pocketed the yellow one ball, and then missed on his next shot.
Derek, like Matt moved around the table to find his next shot. Finding it, he put four more stripes in, but missed his try at the eight ball on a tricky shot into a side pocket. But they had Matt and Dave on the ropes.
Morgan flashed his big grin at Dave as he moved around the table, putting chalk on his cue. Dave smiled, lined up his first shot, and went on to bury all the solids on the table. He set himself up perfectly to put away the eight ball, winking at Matt as it dropped into the pocket.
Emily, standing next to him, looked him in the eye. "I think I hate you." Dave just smiled at her, as he and Matt shared a high five.
The last games of the round robin were to be Dave and Matt against Cait and Aaron, followed by Emily and Derek against the LaMontagne's.
Mike looked at his dad and cleared his throat. "Mike?"
"Don't you think it would more fun to have the two undefeated teams play the last game?"
Aaron smiled at his son. Reid standing next to Mike shared a fist bump with him, with a smile. "You're good."
"But I can't hold a candle to you Doc," Mike smiled.
Reid rubbed his shoulder with a broad smile that his parent's matched. Derek looked at JJ. "Bring it one Pennsylvania Petite."
Garcia, getting a bit tipsy, with her four friends facing each other, put her hand on Kevin's shoulder to pull off her platform shoes. Kevin held her waist to help her keep her balance. "I'z gotta be a solid ground for this one," she said.
The LaMontagne's won the coin flip. JJ smiled and waved her hand to the table as Will racked up the balls. As Emily moved to break, Morgan signaled at Matt to re-fill his scotch. Dave looked at Cait and Hotch. They both just smiled. Morgan was going to be guest number two for the night; whether he wanted to be or not. Matt spied the exchange and smiled as he took Derek's glass and walked to the bar. Emily was now "nursing" her drink, taking it a bit slower.
It was another close match, until Derek missed a gimme shot, leaning on the rail of the table in disbelief. Will ran the table. "The LaMontagne's finally come through!" JJ said, raising her clinched fists in the air. She threw her arms around Will's shoulders. "My hero," she smiled. JJ was matching Garcia in the "feeling relaxed" department. Cait smiled at Aaron, knowing they both had safe rides home.
The big match was at hand. Kevin reached into his pocket and pulled out a quarter. He smiled. "Since there is one lady out of four of you, she calls the flip." He looked at Cait. "In the air please."
Cait smiled at him, as he flipped the coin. "Heads." Kevin let gravity take its course and grabbed the coin as it fell. He caught it and flipped it onto his other hand. He moved his hand to reveal the choice. He smiled and looked around at the group.
Matt stopped him. "Kevin please; mom has a permanent rabbit's foot in her pocket." Kevin smiled and pointed at him
Aaron looked at his oldest son and Dave. "You boys are up to bat first," he said, winking at Cait as he racked up the pool balls. Tightening the balls in the rack to get them to stay together, he pulled the rack off.
Matt lined up the cue ball for the break. He dropped a stripe, but missed on the next shot. Aaron walked around the table, putting the blue chalk on the end of his pool cue as he surveyed the table.
Matt looked at him. "You're going next dad?"
Aaron smiled at him. "Yes son, I am." Matt threw a look at Dave. Dave just shrugged his shoulders. Reid looked at Emily and winked. He had already figured out the couple's strategy. Emily smiled. She had as well. Hotch was the offense of the team. Cait, to stymie Dave, was the defense.
And it worked perfectly. Aaron could match Matt landing the balls in the pockets. Cait just kept Dave buried. He looked at her with a snarl. Cait just laughed at him. Matt missed a bank shot at the eight ball. Hotch dropped he and Cait's last stripe ball but really didn't have a shot at the eight ball. He took it, but it seemed like a feeble attempt to all the rest gathered around.
Dave smiled his usual Cheshire cat one at Hotch's shot. He perused the table, quickly seeing he really didn't have a shot. And he knew Cait was in the wings to bury the team or just Matt. Dave looked at his BAU partner. "God damn you."
Aaron just smiled. Cait wasn't far behind. "Uncle Dave," Matt asked.
Dave looked at his pool partner while cruising around the table again, trying to find an edge. "Your parents are a pain in the ass at times." He looked at Matt. "This is one of those times." Garcia and JJ giggled.
Derek slipped an arm over Emily's shoulder as JJ looked at Will. Garcia, already more than her bubbly self, thanks to the drinks she consumed, looked at Kevin, who smiled at her. "Hotch put Rossi in a hole and he knows he has Cait behind him, waiting to strike," Reid quickly deduced. Garcia, wobbling a bit, even in flat feet smiled at Kevin. Dave burrowed an eye into Reid. Kevin snickered.
Dave looked at the three of them. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," he growled, while walking around the table again. JJ, in the same shape as Garcia giggled and then put her head on Will's shoulder who already had his arm around her.
Matt, fully being Uncle Dave's partner, had to smile at his parents. They were a team; and a team that knew how to take care of another team. While he never showed his thoughts, keeping his game face on, he proudly smiled inside.
Dave finally selected a shot, trying to take a bank shot at the eight ball. It fell short, but felt he had left Cait no shot at the same black orb. He smiled devilishly at her.
Cait, stepping up to the table, looked around. She moved past Dave, took the cue in hand and lined up the shot. Cait, banking a four rail shot, buried the eight ball into a side pocket. Cait looked at Dave and rubbed his goatee. "Sorry luvs. But next time, you gotta bury me better than that. You're too nice; my brothers were ruthless. They didn't like getting beat by a girl." She walked to Aaron who pulled her into a kiss. Accepting it, she rubbed his chin line with a smile. The congratulations were shared all around.
Will looked at Jayje and smiled, looking around. "I think I have to get my wife home." JJ just smiled.
Kevin, picking up Penelope's shoes, smiled as well. "I think I'm in that same boat Will." Garcia just giggled.
They all headed upstairs and walked into the foyer with Matt and Aaron grabbing coats from the closet. Will got JJ in her coat and looked at Cait. "I'll get her in the car and get it running if you don't mind getting Henry?" Cait smiled.
"Will," Emily asked.
He smiled. "The cold might do her some good," he drawled
JJ hugged Cait. "Thank you. I needed this."
"Anytime sweetheart; you know my number," she smiled.
JJ said her good-byes to everyone and Will got her out the door. Cait went up the stairs to get Henry. Mike was just checking on the boys when Cait got to the top of stairs of their bedroom wing.
He smiled at his mother. "I'll get him mom. He's sound asleep. Let's not push that hip of yours," he signed as they approached the open door of Jack's room. Their silent communication meant they would not wake the sleeping boys. Cait smiled at her second son, growing into a man before her eyes.
Mike tenderly lifted Henry out of the bed, while Cait threw the covers back over, walked around the bed, and re-tucked in a soundly sleeping Jack, kissing his forehead again. She followed Mike down the stairs and directed him to sit on the bench Cait had by the front door and he put Henry in his lap.
Mike looked around. "Where's Emily and Derek?" he whispered.
Aaron looked at him, and whispered back. "Bathroom breaks." Mike smiled. Cait, used to doing it many times with her then two young sons, got Henry into his coat without waking him. As she zipped it up, Will came back in. Cait pulled the jacket hood over Henry's head.
She looked at Will. "He just came out of a warm bed…"
Will smiled at her. "I've already got the blanket ready in the back seat." He pulled her into a hug. "Thanks Cait. We all needed this. These cases take a toll on us at home as well because we know how much it's affecting the people we love." He squeezed her tight.
Aaron rubbed his shoulder as Dave smiled proudly. Will shook Aaron's hand, thanking him as well for opening their home. Aaron looked at him. "Drive safe."
"I'm good; backed down early. I was pretty sure how my wife was going to be," he smiled. He said good-bye to the rest, including Emily how had re-appeared from the bath off the kitchen and gently lifted Henry in his arms. Cait handed him Henry's school bag. "Thank you," he said, giving her a quick kiss then looking at Hotch. "Hope you don't mind," he drawled. Aaron just smiled.
Reid, smiling at all of it, pulled Cait into a hug as well. "Thanks; for everything; including your support with my mom. I really appreciate it." Cait rubbed his back, giving him the attention he should be getting from his own mother. He pulled back and smiled at her.
Garcia, watching the whole proceedings, smiling happily, plopped down on the bench. "I'm not putting those platforms on again." She looked at Kevin. "I need my purse." Kevin started to look around.
Matt smiled at him. "I've got it Kevin." He returned a few seconds later with the oversized satchel. Garcia fished through it, weaving a bit as she did. Dave smiled at Cait.
She pulled out some booties with rubber soles. "Score!" she happily smiled, and slipped them on her feet, looking at Kevin pulling his coat on. "You don't have the car running?"
"Nope," he smiled. "The cold might do you some good as well." The same scene with the two tech analysts played out like the one with JJ and Will. Aaron stepped out the door to make sure Kevin got Garcia to his car as Reid followed them and then shut it.
That left Emily, Dave, Aaron, Cait and the M&M's. Emily looked around. "Where the hell is Morgan?"
Matt smiled. "He went back downstairs, I'm assuming to use the bathroom. I'll go down and check." Thirty seconds later, they all heard him softly whistle up the steps. Cait looked down the steps at him. He smiled. "I think you need to bring a blanket or two down mom." He smiled. "And maybe a pillow." Cait went up the steps to the linen closet by the boy's bathroom.
Emily looked at Hotch and Rossi. "No way! This I've got to see." She slipped her shoes off and went back down the steps. Aaron and Dave just looked at each other with smiles.
Mike rubbed his hand across Dave's shoulder. "Come on old man, I'll help you make your bed," he smiled.
Matt looked at Dave. "Where's your car keys? I'll get your go bag for you." Dave smiled at him, fishing them out of his coat in the closet. Dave reached back into the closet, finding Morgan's jacket, and pulled his keys out the pocket. "Grab two."
"Dave find Emily's coat, and go three for three," Aaron smiled. Dave complied and handed the third set of keys to Matt. He had stuffed the first two into each of his front jeans pockets, keeping them separate. He shoved Emily's into a back pocket and set off for the back door to grab his coat. Mike and Dave disappeared into the den as Cait came down the steps with a comforter and a pillow for Morgan. Emily re-appeared at the top of the steps.
"He may have had a bit too much scotch, but I really think it's more cases than anything," she looked at the two of them, with a bit of a sad smile.
"Which is why you're staying as well," Cait smiled. She looked at Aaron. "You give her the options; I'll get Derek tucked in." Cait headed back down the steps.
Emily looked at Hotch. He didn't give her a chance to argue. "You don't want to mess with I-95 on a Friday night at this time. Matt is getting your go bag from your car," he smiled. It was past midnight. "There's a futon in the boys gaming room. Sean and Leslie sleep on it when they're here at Thanksgiving along with Cait's parents, taking the den. They don't complain about it. Or you can take the couch," he said motioning in the great room.
Mike walked out of the den to catch the last part of the conversation. "The futon is pretty comfy Emily," he smiled. "When I have a friend stay over, that's where they bunk."
Emily smiled at him, rubbing his arm. "You guys don't want a girl up in your man lair. And honestly, my back has been barking a bit again. The couch would be better. I can sleep on my side with some support. That is if you and Cait don't mind. I don't want to get in your space," she stammered a bit. Hotch just shook his head and smiled.
"I told you earlier. I'm going to be snoring in my wife's ear all night. But we keep the door open so we can hear the boys. You'll probably hear me as well," he blushed slightly. Emily just shook her head at him and smiled.
"It's OK Hotch. You may lead this team, and you're damn good at it. But you're human, just like the rest of us. Promise me you'll curl up with your wife and sleep." He nodded his promise.
Hotch looked at Mike. "You get Uncle Dave set up?"
Mike smiled. "He's already in his boxers, climbing in."
Emily grabbed Mike's arm. "Please! TMI. I'll picture that the rest of the night," she snarked. The two Hotchner's enjoyed a gentle laugh.
"Can you please go upstairs and raid the linen closet again?"
Mike smiled and replied, "Sure dad." Matt walked in and handed Emily her go bag along with her car keys.
"Thanks Matt," she smiled. "You're a gentleman like your father." He smiled at her and moved past them to give Dave his go bag.
Aaron led Emily into the great room. "Would you like to fall asleep to a warm fire?"
"You don't mind?" He shook his head, adding logs onto the dimming fire to get it re-stoked. Cait came up the steps and joined them.
Matt came out of the den smiling. "The snore fest is already on in there." He turned to take Derek's bag downstairs, first moving to the lunch counter to drop Morgan's keys there. Mike came down the steps with another comforter that Cait had in the closet, along with a pillow.
"Thanks Mike," Emily smiled at him.
He smiled back. "Good night Emily." He shared hugs with his parents, as did Matt, back up the steps from the basement. The boys headed up the steps to their bedrooms.
"Good night Emily," Hotch said, moving to him and Cait's bedroom. Cait moved into the kitchen to get the coffee maker ready for the morning. She set it up to make the most cups it would hold. I'll probably need it in the morning she thought.
She shut the kitchen light out, set the alarm and walked into the living room, moving to a bank of light switches. She shut them all down except one, a quiet light above the fireplace and looked at Emily. "That enough for you?"
Emily just nodded and pulled her into a hug. Whispering in Cait's ear, she said, "I don't know where I would be right now without you. You helped me more than my therapist. But tonight, you helped a whole team out. That's huge." They shared the hug for a few seconds and then Cait pulled away.
Cait looked at her and wiped away the single tear that ran down Emily's face, shaking her head. "I love my husband. The rest falls in place because of that." She gave Emily a quick hug. "The light switch is the far right one," she pointed at the switch bank. "The bathroom off the kitchen has a night light," she smiled. "Dave will be up at least twice," she winked. "Good night Emily."
"Good night Cait."
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A/N: I think my Dutch Delight owes me big time! But I know where to send the bill! :D